Internships in Ecuador

Once you apply online, and there is no charge for this, we send you a link to our calendar to schedule an initial phone or video assessment interview. This initial call takes about 30 minutes. In it, our Program Director determines if you are a good fit for the program, and you determine if our program is a good fit for you. Once both parties have mutually assessed positively, then Adelante will send out a Letter of Acceptance (for those looking to receive credit for their time abroad, this is a good document to show any academic advisor) and set up a date for a second, longer  phone or video interview. Prior to this second meeting, you will be emailed a link to confirm your spot in the program via a $250 wise confirmation fee. For the second interview, bring all of your detailed questions and be ready to take a lot of notes! We then check two of your references. The next step is to send your file to our team – Director and Intern Advisor – in your program city abroad.  They begin presenting your file to participating companies abroad, in your desired sector. Once the best company for your specific program parameters chooses your file, we will contract you, with them, for your international internship. You will sign this contract, too. Concurrently, we 1) coordinate the housing you have chosen (shared apartment usually, homestay in some cases); and, 2) enroll you in the two week intensive language course/module you will take upon arrival. We like to be done with the entire step by step process by no later than about 30 days prior to your program start date. So, candidates will know both where they are living and where they are interning long before they arrive abroad.

Yes – You will have your own room with a host, local family in Quito or Ambato.  The homestay option provides you with true cultural immersion and includes laundry services and two meals per day. A refundable housing deposit is required during your first week in country. This deposit will be returned to you as long as the housing is in the same condition as when you arrived. The family houses and apartments are in sought after, working neighborhoods – in Quito (La Gasca and La Mariscal Disricts) and in Ambato (Mira Flores barrio) – near public transit, grocery stores and shopping. All housing has Wi-Fi, but this is not nearly as common as it is here and the infrastructure makes it spotty often – cyber or “net cafes” are everywhere and for the price of a cup of coffee you can access wifi for hours, too, if needed.

In this program only, we are able to offer one–on–one classes, for a much quicker language acquisition while abroad.  Usually the costs for this are prohibitive, but we have negotiated a great rate with a group of dedicated Spanish language “maestras” for our program.  For the first two weeks, you are enrolled in an Intensive Spanish Language course for about 4 hours per day, 5 days per week (approximately 40 hours). This course – your one-on-one classes,  take place at our HQ language center, which is also your home base while in our program.  Your level is determined by a placement test.

For Quito, we suggest budgeting approximately $60 USD per week, and this covers normal expenses like snacks, bus money, some going out and one or two nearby excursions a month. Remember most meals are included! This budget goes up when you start going out at night more and when you begin to travel further abroad on weekends(which we do encourage!)

Yes – We have an on-site, 24/7 Adelante Director and Co-Director for this program: Patricia Fernandez and Hakan Karlsson. Both help coordinate your airport pick-up, housing, internship placement, and once you arrive, will be available for whatever else you may require during your time abroad.  On your first Sunday in Quito, plan on a good Orientation Session with Patricia!  You will then be meeting with Patricia and/or Hakan during your first and second week of classes before your internship starts to prepare you for your first work day. Both speak English and you will be given local contact info and emergency contact info to reach both at any time. Patricia and Hakan both run successful education programs all around Ecuador, think Galapagos Islands Marin tours!, and are seasoned international education professionals.